Welcome to Pokémon Auto Chess
Pokémon Auto Chess is an auto-battler game where you draft Pokémon, position them on a grid, and watch them fight automatically. Rounds are fast, decisions matter, and no two games play out the same. If you're just getting started, this guide will walk you through the fundamental mechanics so you're not walking in blind.
How a Round Works
Each game is divided into rounds. Every round you receive a hand of Pokémon to choose from, place units on your board, and then watch your team battle either a neutral enemy or another player's squad. The cycle repeats until one player is left standing.
- Draft Phase: Choose one Pokémon from a random shop to add to your bench or board.
- Preparation Phase: Rearrange your Pokémon on the grid before combat begins.
- Combat Phase: Sit back and watch your team fight automatically.
- Income Phase: Collect gold based on your streak and interest earnings.
Understanding Gold and Economy
Gold is the lifeblood of every game. You earn gold at the end of each round, and smart gold management separates beginners from veterans.
- Interest: For every 10 gold you have saved, you earn 1 bonus gold per round (up to 5 bonus gold at 50 gold). Try to maintain 50 gold to maximize passive income.
- Win/Loss Streaks: Winning or losing multiple rounds in a row gives you bonus gold. Don't panic-spend just to win one round if you're on a lose streak — the gold bonus can be worth it.
- Rerolling the Shop: Spending 2 gold rerolls your available Pokémon. Do this sparingly in the early game to protect your economy.
Experience and Leveling Up
Your level determines how many Pokémon you can have on the board at once. You gain experience automatically each round, but you can also buy XP for 4 gold to level up faster and field stronger teams earlier.
Leveling up also increases the odds of finding higher-rarity Pokémon in your shop. Timing your level-ups strategically is one of the most important skills to develop.
Star Levels: Evolving Your Pokémon
Collecting three copies of the same Pokémon at the same star level merges them into a stronger, higher-star version. A 3-star Pokémon is significantly more powerful than its 1-star counterpart. Focus on completing at least a few 2-star units early rather than fielding a scattered team of 1-stars.
Positioning Basics
Where you place your Pokémon on the hexagonal grid matters enormously. Here are a few starting rules:
- Put tanky Pokémon (high HP, defensive types) in the front rows to absorb damage.
- Place damage dealers and ranged attackers in the back rows where they're protected.
- Spread units out to avoid area-of-effect attacks wiping your whole team at once.
Your First Goals Each Game
Keep these priorities in mind as a beginner:
- Stabilize early with any 2-star units you can complete.
- Identify which synergies you're naturally building toward.
- Save gold to hit interest thresholds (10, 20, 30, 40, 50).
- Level up at the right time to increase your board size.
- Adapt — if your early picks aren't coming, pivot to something else.
Pokémon Auto Chess rewards both planning and flexibility. The more games you play, the better you'll understand when to commit to a strategy and when to pivot. Good luck on the board!